Continuously-operating centrifugal sludge separator



NOV. 12, 1929.

h CONTINUOUSLY OPERATING CENTRIFUGALWSLQDGE ,.PARATOR Filed Dec 6, 192a" 2 Sheets-Shet 2 92% 1% b h a /lzTo/Plv f' ANYR Q'P ,1 1,735,692

Patented. Nov. 12, 19 29 I I imam AAGE N'YROIP, OF COPENHAGEN, IDLENIlVLAIRIK Application filed December 6, 1928, Serial No.

It is knownthat sludge may be separated by treatment in eentrifugalmachines, as it is done for instance in oilseparators',\where the sludge is left in thecentrifugal drum from where it niust be, removed, when the machine is stopped. This method, liowever,'cann ot be employed where the'quantities-o'f sludge are very considerable, since too much time is used in taking the machine apart, in scraping off 19 the sludge deposited and in assembling again the parts of the centrifugal separator. During the last decades it has therefore been attempted to produce continuously operating sludge cen'trifugals, that is to say centrifugal machines which. duringv operation automatiically discharge the sludge. By the treatment of some substances the roblem has been solved by adding to theliquid some other liquid, which is heavier than the sludge, and on the surface of which the sludge is then removed, but thismethod cannot be used universally. p It has been proposed to'let-thes'esludge separators work-continuously, a flow of water being directed. intermittently through the centrifugal, wliereby'the sludge is squirted away, but the method can only rarely be applied, since in most cases the sludge is very 'co herent and cannot be squirted away. Finally it has been attempted to remove the sludge mechanic ally during the operation'of the separator. and it has been attempted to remove the sludge by, the provision of various outlets I and valves, but up to the resent time the eon-v struction of a: really continuously operating machine has not been attained. 1 The-present invention solves this problem for any fluid, and when the new centrifu al' separator has been adjusted for one fluid it will be able to work indefinitely without hav ing to be taken apart.

The principal feature of the invention is the removal during the operation of the socalled undersludge, i. e. the-sludge deposited farthest awayfrom the central axis of the centrifugal machine, and consequently the heaviest and most concentrated sludge, so that the removal of the same may commence after the separator has been started, and the first. 50 bottom sludge has been Iormed. The'dis- ,charge of sludge by the specific gravity of the sludge.

two parts adapted to terior do'ubl YATENT; oFF'icE SEPARATOR 324,241, and in Denmark December 6, 1927.

- By 'such a continuously operating sludge separator the centrifugal drum consists of to one another. latesalso to a device serving be displaced relatively The present invention .re-

to facilitate the regulation of this displacement, which again will mean a finer regulation of the discharge of sludge.

where The invention is shown on the drawing,

Fig. 1 shows a vertical section of one construction of the new centrifugal sludge separator.

= Fig. construction.

Fig.3 shows a vertical 2 shows a vertical section of another section of the pie ferred form of the invention with a device serving to facilitate'the regul placement 0 gal drum. f

4 is a horizontal section Fig. IV-IV in Fi 3, while ation of the dis-- f the two parts of the centrifu- Fig. 5 shows a vertical longiti'idinalsection of a somewhat modified construction.

In the construction shown 'dic'atesa worm driving tended upw in Fig. 1, 1 ina shaft 2 which is eX- ard. in a shaft. 4, the said 'two shafts being connected by a-telesco'pic joint 3 in such a manner that they are firmly connc'ted in the direction of rotation, but arefree to move relatively to one another in lOIlgltlldlnal direction. .By means 0 shaft; 2 is fixed in the bottom part 17 the shaft or shaft p f bearing 5. the longitudinal direction to of the separaton'and at 6 art 4 is fixed longitudinally to a member 7 which'by means of an adusting screw 9 may sleeve 8..

To the shaft 2 and to the shaft l is atta dial members 12 a conica ched up the vertical pressure and be moved vertically in a a lower cup 10 is attached by means of ra- 1 cover 11 and an in-.' e funnel 13 serving partly to take partly to guide the liquid from a pipe 14 by way of a supply pipe 15, into the annul the w ar slot 18 formed by alls of the double funnel 13.

Outside of the rotary parts a mantle 16 -with openings 19 is provide d. The mantle is governed automatically along the line Opened.

' pending on the nature discharged by way 16 is rigidly connected to the base member'17 and between the interior funnel 13 and the conical cover 11 a slot closed by said lower cup 10 is formed which may be of any suitable shape, for instance circular or broken, all deof the sludge, and by moving the cup 10 downwards the slot may be The described centrifugal separator acts in the following manner:

The liquid supplied which is directed through the slot 18 will fill the separator up to the dotted line, and will flow out at the top at the upper edge 21 of the cover 11 and be of an outlet 22. The heavier parts of the fluid concernedwill be deposited within the periphery of the cover 11 and interior double body 13 at the place marked 23, and will gradually occupy the position shown by dotted line, whereafter the raw fluid, as explained above, will flow over the edge 21.

If now the sludge itself were fluid, it would be possible to proceed as in an ordinary centrifugal separator and to direct the sludge back and out, but this is impracticable in the present case, since the sludge is not fluid.

By the present invention, on the other hand, the sludge is discharged by means of centrifugal force, because when the separator is well filled with the sludge the shaft 4 is moved upwardv by means of the described screw device 9, whereby an opening is formed at the slot 20. The opening is then adjusted in such a manner that no more sludge is discharged than the quantity continuously bottom sludgeis reto see that the cover 11 cannot be a sufficient quantity of sludge It is easy lifted until 'has been deposited inside of the joint 20,

because if this joint were open at the start of the separator, then the entire fluid concerned would be flung out through this slot, since the material when suppliedis quite fluid. The sludge discharged by way of the slot 20 is shoveled out by way oft-he openings 19.

The manipulations required according to the nature of the invention may of course also be performed in outlined. For instance the toopen the slot 20 might be transmitted by way of the shaft2, and the motion may be effected automatically by means of a simple lever device or the like. Where the fluids power required treated contain sludge'particles of very difl ferent order of sizes the slot 20 may be. in-

creased automatically during certain periods, so that very large particles, i. .e. particles which are larger than the width of the normal slot and which otherwise might obstruct the slot, may escape. It will also be feasible, after the discharge slot for the bottom sludge has been adjusted, to cause this adjustment to be other manner than as here through at the'outlet marked 21, and

dependent on a spring pressure, so that when the quantity of sludge inrthe separator is in creased, the pressure of the sludge will be increased and the slot 20 opened, while the said slot will be more or less closed when the quantity of sludge is reduced. I

Inthe construction shown in Fig. 2, 2 indicates the shaft with sleeve on which the centrifugal drum is suspended. 10 indicates the lower cup, or bottom part which is in firm connection withthe shaft 2 By means of a telescopic joint the part consisting of. a 'double body 13 and a conical cover 11 is connected to the bottom part 10, the members 13 and 11 being interconnected by a radial member 12 and a nut 33, and the connection between the bottom part 10 and the top part consisting of the members 13 and 11 being interconnected in such a manner that they will be firmly connected in the direction the bottom piece 10 and the conical cover 11 there is provided a narrow passage 20, which may be of any suitable shape, and by pushing the upper parts 11l3 down on to the disk 10 the passage or slot 20- may be closed entirely.

On the conical cover 11 there is provided,

inside of the elastic closing member 29, a pressure surface 44, the shape and width of which may be varied according to the liquidssupplied. The interior double body 13 is provided with a raised annular ring 13 and the cover 11 is provided with a depending annular ring 11'. These annular rings are so placed on their respective members so that they are adjacent each other and form a sludge chamber 23' around the periphery of the rotating drum. Inside of the sludge chamber 23 there may be provided an inner peripheral slot'47 between the conical cover 11 and the'bottom part, of the double body 13, bolts'38, 27 with nuts 26 and springs 25 being provided for the purpose of pressing the cover 11 against the bottom piece 10.

This centrifugal separator acts in the folowing manner: The. liquid supplied, which is directed separator'until the liquid flows out at top, is collected in known manner in collecting disks 22. The heavier parts of the fluid will be collected as closely inside of the periphery of the drum as possible, at the place marked 23.

may be more or less the slot 18,-will fill the centrifugal construction shown in If now the sludge itself were fluid the procedure might be the same as in case of an sludge is discharged by means of centrifugal force, sincethe centrifugal drum when suitthe member "operation, while ably filled with sludge, owing to the increased inner weight, will open the slot 20 during the the bottom piece 10 and the conical cover 11 and members 12, 30 and 13 will move away from each other.

Before the separator 'is started the liquid to be separated has been closely examined and its specific gravity has been determined,

and in accordance thereto the pressure is ad justed by means of the springs 25 relatively to the size of the pressure surface 44, in such a manner, that'thepressure on this surface will be equal to the pressure of the springs when the drum is filled with liquid and the sludge has been deposited up to, for instance, the 'line A.' dVhen now more sludge is deposited in the drum, then the pressure against A 44 will exceedthe spring pressure, and the top 5nd bottom piece of the drum will move away from one another. If new a closing ring or closing devices 37 have been provided between the parts 11 and 13 inconnection with the bolts 27, then this ring or these deviceswill move downward relatively to the member 13 and stop any further supply to the sludge chamber 23. If

' now simultaneously, for instance by means of an outlet 42, whilethe devices 37. close the slot47, an outlet is opened for the fiuid enclosed below'the device 37 in the cavity.

39, so that the said fluid may freely escape by way of the pipe 42, then the force which previously acted upward against the device 37' will be released. The separating forces v acting on the interior of parts 11 and 13 will be further increased, since there is now no outlet for the sludge and the slot 2O will be fully opened against the action of device 37 said springs 25.

By proper calculation of the curve of outflow of the sludge through the'slot 20 then the drum, notwithstanding the pressure given for instance by the springs 25, will not be able to close itself until all the sludge has been discharged by way of the slot 20'. Vhen no moresludge is left in the sludge chamber 23 the drum ,will close itself, and the pressure, given for instance by the springs 25 will predominate, and when the fluid enters below the separating forces will at once be decreased considerably thereby.

In the preferred construction shown 111 Figs. 3 to 5, 51 is the vertical shaft supporting the centrifugal separator. The shaft is fitted with a hub 52 supporting a lower cup 53 with upturned periphery 54 which is fitted with a series ofchannels or discharge outlets of 'a' cylindricalthe hub 52 and the'tubular extension 56, the

55. The hub 52 is fitted at top with a tubular extension 56. In said lowercup 53 there is inserted aninterior double body consisting or conical hub 57 encircling said hub 57 being fitted with an inner cup 58 adapted to slide tightly against the inner face of the vertical edge 54 of the lower cup 53-, so that the'edge 54 of the lower .cup 53 cooperates with the edge 7 f the inner cup 58.like a piston with its cylinder. Above the :inner cup 58 there is provided, coaxially to the hub 57 an upper member 59 with a cup Hereby there is formed 60 attached thereto. a chamber 61 between the lower cup 53 and the inner cup 58, and between the hubs 57 and 59 and said inner cup 58 and said upper arated liquid flows along the inner edge of the Co-operatmg conical cover 63' and over the edge'65 to a discharge pipe 66. The inner channel 67 of the tubular hub 56 communicates byway of a couple 61 between the lower cup 53 and the inner of small bores 68 with the chamber cup 58. Vertical wings or vanes 69 may be I prdvided in the chamber formed between theinner cup 58 and said cover 63'. The inner cup 58 is fitted with some bolts 70 passing through the lower cup 53, and thereby the said inner cup 58 maybe pressed firmly against the lower cup 53 by means of springs 71 and nuts 72. 1 The device Until sludge has acts inthe following manner: been collected at the place marked 73 the parts will be in the position shown on the drawing, whereby the slot 74 between the top part and the bottompart of the cover 63 is closed,

but when sufficient sludge has been collected a liquid is introduced, from a tank 75 disposed above the channel 67, into the channel 67 from where the liquid passes through the small holes 68 into the chamber 61, and by the peripheral v pressure of the liquid the inset 58,160, 63 will e forced upward in such a. manner that a slot 7 4 will be formed bctwecnthe edge 54 and the cover 63 by way of which slot the sludge collected in the space 7 3 will gradually be dis charged. lVhen the inset is lifted. sufliciently to uncover the holes 55 in the edge 54, then the liquid contained inthe chamber 61 will escape by way of these holes and cause the inset to sink again, so that the slot 74. will be closed. 1 By suitable supply of liquid from the tank 75 the inset 58, 60, 63 may be main- .tained lifted sofar that the slot 74 will be sufliciently wide to allow a uniform and suitable discharge of sludge.

ios

of the vertical edge 54 i said lower cup '45 In order to secure tightness between the edge 5-1 and the cover 63, as well as between the inner cup 58 and the edge 54, the upper part of the edge 54 may for instance consist 5 of thin and somewhat resilient rings 76, and

69 the centrifugal separator may of course in known manner be arranged to hold the cups in sucha manner that the contents may be separated in layers.

- Finally it should be added that there may be provided an overflow pipe from the interior of the separator to the tank 75, in such a manner that the liquid directed to the separator will be directed up to the tank 7 5 and cause the inset to be lifted when the separator is filled with sludge. In the foregoing the cover 68 has been assumed to be maintained lower cup by means of springs 71, the number size and tension of which may be adjusted according to circumstances. y

In the case of certain liquids, however, this manner of depressingthe cover may possibly be insufficient, and liquid pressure may then be used on top of said cover 68,,either instead of the spring pressure or together with the latter. r Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by-Latters Patent is: a I p 1. A centrifugal sludge separator having a rotating unit with relatively displaceable elements comprising a lower cup having an upturned periphery provided with discharge turned perlphery,

' outlets normally closed, a conical cover slidably and coaxially mounted with respect to and normally abutting said upturned periphery, said discharge outlets being opened upon a predetermined displace? ment of said conical cover and resilient means cooperating with said plurality of discharge outlets to return said conical cover to'normally abutting position after said predetermined displacement.

2. A centrifugal sludge separator having a rotating unit with relatively displaceable elements comprising alower cup having an upturned periphery provided With discharge outlets, an interior double body slidable and coaxially mounted with respect to said lower ressed against the body and said lower cup and in conjunction with said chamber.

4. A centrifugal sludge separator having a rotating unit withrelatively displaceable elements comprising a lower cup-having an upturned periphery, an interior double body slidably and coaxially mounted with respect and forminga chamber coverintegral with said interior double body and normally abutting said upturned periphery, resilient meansacting to maintain said conical cover and said lower cup in normally abutting position and displacement control means comprising 'a tank, a channel and small holes provided within said lower cup communicating with said chamber.

5'. A centrifugal sludge separator having a.rotating unit with relatively displaceable elements comprising a lower cup having an upturned periphery provided with discharge outlets, an interior double body slidably and coaxially mounted with respect to said lower to saidlower cup therewith, a conical cup and normally closing said discharge outlets, a conical cover integral with said interior double body and normally abutting said upan annular elastic closing member mounted on the upper edge of said upturned periphery, said interior double body and said conical cover being capable of dis placement to form a peripheral discharge slot and to open said discharge outlets and resilient means acting between said interior double body and said lower'cup and in conjunction with said discharge slots to return said cover toabutting relation with respect to said lower cup.

In testimony whereof I .aflix my signature."

AAQE N YROP.

cup and normally closing said discharge out-,

lets, a conical cover integral with said interior double body and normally abutting said upturned periphery, said interior double body and said conical cover being capable of displacement to form a peripheral discharge slot and to open said discharge outlets and resili- 65 cut means acting between said interior double 

